Road Trip ~ Mississinewa 1812 Re-enactment

Looking for a fun road trip for October? Visit Mississinew 1812 outsid eof Marion, IN. About 2 hours NE of Indianapolis, this historic reeenactment offers a history lesson or two, food, fun, music, shopping, battles, and trees just getting their first tinges of fall color. Mississinew 1812 if the largest repeating War of 1812 reenactment event in the US.

The grounds of Mississsinewa 1812 are open from 9-5 on Saturday, and 9-4 on Sunday. You can view this year's schedule here. For those who love to be entertained, there are strolling bards, seated dulcimer players, and a magician or two. If you love textiles and other handmade goods, this is one of the best Midwest events to stock up on wares like pottery, millerny, and woodwork, as well as herbs, soaps, and tinware.

To learn how things worked in 1812, visit the printer's tent, watch ladies spinning wool or flax, or watch the blacksmiths hard at work. Visit the campsites and see meals being prepared over open fires or firearms being cleaned.

Each day features at least one battle, not an actual recreation of this battle of 1812, because of not having enough natives, but it does do a splendid job of showing how battles of the time were fought. Aftre the battle is over, the participants march in front of the spectators in parade style so you can view the pagentry, and the cool attention to detail given to their uniforms.

The gounds have numerous port-o-lets and hand-washing stations. We suggest taking a backpack filled with your water bottle, wet wipes, a morning snack, and a jacket. After you've eaten that snack, fill it up with your purchases and enjoy some tmepting foods for lunch from one of the many food vendors! Take some cash with you! While most vendors accept credit cards, you can navigate the food lines much more quickly with cash. Wear a hat or use sunblock, and dress in layers. The temperatures from early morning to late afternoon often vary by 20-30 degrees.

When you forst arrive, follow the parking instructions from the loacl law enforcement and event staff, make a not of which lot you are in (they have letters) and take everything with you, there are NO in/out priviledges.

Have a wonderful time! Mississinewa 1812 is an annual fall favorite for many familes.